PSY10005: Introduction to Research Methods
Assignment 1: Critical review
Word limit: 1000 (+/- 10%)
Weighting: 15%
Due date: 5pm AEST Monday16 April 2018 (Week 6)
After you have read this information, head over to theAssignment 1 Q&Adiscussion board to ask any questions and see what your peersare saying about this assignment.
Assignment overview
Over the first few weeks of this unit, you have been learning the concepts that will enable you to read and understand a research report. You have also begun to learn how to recognise well-designed studies—studies in which the research methods are appropriately matched to the research question. You will now put this learning together, and write a summary and evaluation of a research report (called a 'critical review').
Writing your critical review will help you learn how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a particular research design. This skill will help you inAssignment 2: Research proposal, in which you will need to plan and propose a research study. The ability will also help you throughout your course, and in everyday life, to evaluate claims made in a range of academic and non-academic contexts.
Related learning outcomes
This assignment assesses the following unit learning outcomes:
3. describe the main concepts of measurement and various sampling methods
4. explain the general concept of an experiment and a quasi-experiment and outline uses of these designs in research
5. contrast a range of research designs and methods and be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each method
Assignment Details
Step 1: Choosing an article to review
Read the articles in theList of articles for critical review. You may have questions about the articles as you read; leave time to review the learning materials and answer them.
Select only one article to review. You may use the remaining articles as supporting literature to help you build your argument, but a well-constructed review might require you to conduct further research through the Swinburne Library.
Step 2: Writing your critical review
Write a critical review of your selected article, including the following:
·
Title page
·
Introduction (approx. 100 words) - Criterion 4
o The introduction should say why the general subject of the research article being evaluated is important or interesting and what you are going to do (e.g. 'This critical review will ... '). Your final sentence should state your overall judgment about the strength of the article.
·
Summary (approx. 400 words) - Criterion 1
·
Critical evaluation (approx. 400 words) - Criteria 2 and 3
o You can find information regarding critically evaluating resources in Criteria 2 and 3 of the assignment criteria below. If you are unsure of how you would go about critically evaluating, please have a go at3.5 Activity: Critical review generatoras it will provide you with a starting point.
·
Conclusion (approx. 100 words) - Criterion 4
o The conclusion should provide a summary of the major points of your argument, and your overall evaluation of the research article. Perhaps consider what the article has contributed to your understanding and to the development of knowledge in this area of research.
·
References (in APA style) - Criterion 4
o Include a reference list in APA style. It should be presented on its own page with a separate heading.You may find theAPA quick guide(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.useful.
Please note that the allocation of words to each section is a guideline, and will vary across individual assignments. Moreover, there is no requirement to use headings for the introduction, body and conclusion. ThisGuide to writing critical reviewswill assist you.
Note that your evaluation should go beyond a simple 'good' or 'not good'. Rather, you are evaluating theextentto which the argument is supported by the evidence, and theextentto which the methods address the research question. (Tip: Don't forget the strengths. It is unlikely that the paper is perfect, but as it is a published article, it probably has some strengths as well.)
Submission details overview
This assignment will be submitted via Turnitin. You will find the relevant submission point below.
Please allow a 24-hour turnaround for an originality report to be generated. See theTurnitin originality reportLinks to an external site.area of Study Resources for several guides to assist with the submission process.
Assignment support
Don't forget that in addition to your eLAs who provide discipline-specific content advice, you can access the 24/7 draft writing service from Studiosity.
If you need assistance with academic feedback on a draft of your assignment task seeAssignment support: Studiosity.
Assignment Criteria
1. Quality of summary
2. Quality of evaluation: evaluation of the argument and supporting evidence
3. Quality of evaluation: evaluation of the research design
4. Quality of academic writing and adherence to APA style.
Your work will be assessed using the following marking guide:
Criteria
|
No Pass
|
Pass
50-59%
|
Credit
60-69%
|
Distinction
70-79%
|
High Distinction
80-100%
|
Quality of summary
(25%)
|
Did not meet criterion.
|
Describes article, including research background, methodology and results.
|
Describes article, including research background, methodology and results.
Includes most or all of the key points of: the research background; the research approach(es); the methods for data collection, sampling and measurement; and the results.
|
Describes article, including research background, methodology and results.
Includes most or all of the key points of: the research background; the research approach(es); the methods for data collection, sampling and measurement; and the results.
Demonstrates understanding of the article by progressing logically and presenting relevant details without too much direct quotation.
|
Describes article, including research background, methodology and results.
Includes most or all of the key points of: the research background; the research approach(es); the methods for data collection, sampling and measurement; and the results.
Demonstrates understanding of the article by progressing logically and presenting relevant details without too much direct quotation.
This summary also draws broader links, either to other related research or to the social or political context.
|
Quality of evaluation: evaluation of argument and supporting evidence
(25%)
|
Did not meet criterion.
|
The review presents a judgment about the argument in the article, which is supported by citing strengths and weaknesses in the article.
|
The review presents a judgment about the argument in the article, which is supported by citing strengths and weaknesses in the article.
It includes most or all of the key strengths and weaknesses of the argument and its supporting evidence.
|
The review presents a judgment about the argument in the article, which is supported by citing strengths and weaknesses in the article.
It includes most or all of the key strengths and weaknesses of the argument and its supporting evidence.
The evaluation demonstrates understanding of scientific thinking principles by judging scientific elements of the argument, such as the quality of the logic or the operationalisation of the research question.
|
The review presents a judgment about the argument in the article, which is supported by citing strengths and weaknesses in the article.
It includes most or all of the key strengths and weaknesses of the argument and its supporting evidence.
The evaluation demonstrates understanding of scientific thinking principles by judging scientific elements of the argument, such as the quality of the logic or the operationalisation of the research question.
At this level, the evaluation shows appreciation of nuance, acknowledging partial strengths in the argument or supporting evidence. This evaluation also suggests ways that the argument could be improved.
|
Quality of evaluation: evaluation of the research design
(30%)
|
Did not meet criterion.
|
The evaluation presents a judgment about the strength of the research design, which is supported by citing the strengths and weaknesses of the research study.
|
The evaluation presents a judgment about the strength of the research design, supported by citing the strengths and weaknesses of the research study.
It covers most or all of the key points relating to the strengths and weaknesses of the methods.
|
The evaluation presents a judgment about the strength of the research design, supported by citing the strengths and weaknesses of the research study.
It covers most or all of the key points relating to the strengths and weaknesses of the methods.
The evaluation demonstrates understanding of research methods by judging the relevance of the research design to the research question.
|
The evaluation presents a judgment about the strength of the research design, supported by citing the strengths and weaknesses of the research study.
It covers most or all of the key points relating to the strengths and weaknesses of the methods.
The evaluation demonstrates understanding of research methods by judging the relevance of the research design to the research question.
At this level, the evaluation shows appreciation of nuance, acknowledging partial strengths, and limitations on the design from ethical considerations.
It also suggests ways to improve on the research study.
|
Quality of academic writing and adherence to APA style
(20%)
|
Did not meet criterion.
|
Includes an introduction, summary, evaluation and conclusion.
There are many errors in grammar that obscure the main points of the review.
Both in-text citations and reference list are present, but there are several errors in format, or confusion of APA style with other referencing styles.
|
Includes an introduction, summary, evaluation and conclusion.
There are no errors in structure, grammar or spelling that obscure the main points of the review, but some errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling still remain.
Both the in-text citations and reference list are largely in APA style, but some errors remain.
|
Includes an introduction, summary, evaluation and conclusion.
This review uses topic and linking sentences to help the reader follow the reviewer's argument. Argument is constructed logically.
Evidence of proofing is present; few errors remain in spelling, grammar, citations or references.
|
Includes an introduction, summary, evaluation and conclusion.
This review uses topic and linking sentences to help the reader follow the reviewer's argument. Argument is constructed logically.
Evidence of editing is present; the review flows well and does not contain extraneous information.
Evidence of proofing is present; any remaining errors in spelling, grammar, citations or references are inconsequential.
|